Practical landscape archaeology with the Upper Wharfedale Heritage Group

Upper Wharfedale Heritage Group (UWHG) formed in 2005 with the purpose of adding to the knowledge of the archaeologically rich area of Upper Wharfedale & the surrounding landscapes and currently has 72 members.

Throughout the years we have run a programme of talks and walks covering a wide range of heritage related subjects – these are open to the public and the full details may be found here.

With the YDLRT we have surveyed much of the area surrounding Threshfield Quarry, including the quarry buildings prior to redevelopment, as well as Chapel House Wood, Long Ashes, Tyne Beck Wood, the Druid’s Altar and 100 Acre Pasture.

IAG projects have also involved our members in Wharfedale, Ribblesdale and Chapel-le-Dale with the IAG and near Grassington and in Kilnsey the two groups worked together on the digs at the lime kiln and corn drying kiln on the Town Piece

Excavation and subsequent post excavation analysis and recording work with the YDLRT included activities both at Chapel House and in Kilnsey itself. UWHG have conducted specific excavations projects both in Arncliffe and Kilnsey as well as working on the Long Preston Big Dig where members excavated and also worked as pit supervisors, in conjunction with IAG colleagues.

Surveys have also been conducted on behalf of the YDNP at Langcliffe Scar and at Kilnsey Town Piece as well as recording the barns in Kettlewell and Starbotton area and with their support carried out and published a detailed survey of Whitfield Syke mill at Embsay.

Other activities included, in addition to forming a very active Embsay Research Group, excavating the Shell Grotto at Wilderness Beck in Skipton for the Skipton Civic Society, participating in the Skipton Community Research Project and in the field walking and excavation at Yarnbury, conducted by Bradford University.

Annually the group produces a poster display for the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology which over the last decade has been exhibited at the Long Ashes Leisure Centre and at the YDNP annual Heritage Day.

We are currently engaged in a detailed study of the landscape around Kilnsey, concentrating initially the buildings, and documentary research - and it is hoped to follow this up with the investigation of the routes and trackways in coming years.

Our programme of walks and talks is detailed here. The talks are normally held on the first Thursday of the month (February to April then October to December) at the Soroptimists Rooms at 28 Otley Street in Skipton (BD23 1EW) starting at 7:30pm. Our walks are held during the day between May and September - but the days vary to suit the walk leader.